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If you thought central planning was buried with the fall of communism, you should look at the European Union. In recent years, the EU has been working on its so-called taxonomy. Read more

Since last week’s announcement, Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s proposed social unemployment insurance has been criticised across the political divide. Some complaints relate simply to timing. Read more

A dark part of me hopes the government’s employment insurance scheme is enacted exactly as proposed. It will be terrible. Read more

The OECD’s country report for New Zealand always reveals sobering home truths. This year’s was no exception. Read more

Officially, New Zealand governments welcome overseas investment. In practice, they do much to thwart it, for no good reason. Read more

Toward the end of the classic Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now, Captain Willard finally found the object of his quest: the mad Colonel Kurtz. Kurtz asked whether Willard agreed with their superiors who believed that Kurtz’s methods were unsound. Read more

We are still five days ahead of Groundhog Day (celebrated on 2 February each year), yet we feel like we have been here before. Only Punxsutawney Phil and Andie MacDowell are missing. Read more

When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. New Zealand's apparently record-low unemployment figures are a classic case. Read more

Prudence is a virtue. Aristotle considered it among the nine most important. Read more